ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
India strengthens its commitment to Clean Sport, contributes USD 1 million to WADA for scientific research
Taking a step further to ensure an atmosphere of Clean Sport globally, India has pledged a sum of USD 1 million to the World Anti-Doping Agency  towards the global agency’s scientific research budget, which will allow WADA to develop innovative anti-doping testing and detection methods. The money will also be used to further strengthen WADA’s independent Investigations and Intelligence Department.
India’s contribution of USD 1 million is the highest among contributions made by other world governments, including China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The total contribution of all member nations will be matched by an equal sum by the International Olympic Committee  to create a corpus of USD 10 million. The decision to build this corpus was made at WADA’s Fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport held in Katowice, Poland in 2019. This contribution is over and above the annual contribution made to WADA’s core budget by India.
Writing to WADA President Witold Banka about the contribution, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Kiren Rijiju said, “I am happy to share with you that the Government of India is pledging a “one-off” financial support of USD 1 million to this WADA Fund for scientific R&D and  with the hope that this contribution from India will boost the efforts to achieve the target of USD 10 million for this Fund.” In a previous meeting with the WADA President, held on September 8, 2020, through video conference, Shri Rijiju had stressed on the need for Clean Sport and the Indian Government’s commitment to strengthen the anti-doping programme globally. He had also assured India’s support to WADA in the form of scientific expertise and resources.
Lauding the co-operation of member countries, WADA President Witold Banka said in a press release, “This is a massive boost for WADA and for Clean Sport. The agency is grateful to the Government of China, Egypt, India and Saudi Arabia for supporting the protection of sport in this way. These generous contributions can be seen as a strong commitment from these nations and will be put to good use enhancing scientific research, as well as the work of WADA’s independent  department. Both areas have delivered significant achievements in recent years and these additional resources will contribute greatly towards WADA’s mission for doping-free sport.”
Ministry of Defence
DORNIER AIRCRAFT
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited , a Defence Public Sector Undertaking  under the Ministry of Defence, has been manufacturing 19 Seater Dornier Do-228 aircraft since 1983 under Transfer of Technology from Germany. More than 150 military Do-228 aircraft have been produced and supplied to various customers. Two civil Do-228 aircraft have also been produced by HAL.
The Research & Development efforts for an indigenous civil transport aircraft have been initiated by HAL to develop a prototype Hindustan-228 aircraft, based on Dornier Do-228 platform.
HAL has signed two MoUs with foreign companies for exploration of possible co-operation with no financial commitment, regarding development of an amphibian variant of Hindustan-228 aircraft.
HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division  at Kanpur was identified as production agency for the Do-228 in 1983.
For development of Hindustan-228 prototype and indigenisation of the various systems, HAL has allocated Rs 94.41 crore from its internal resources.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Rajendra Dhedya Gavit and others in Lok Sabha on February 04, 2022.
ABB/Savvy
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Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Assistance for Food Processing Industries
In order to ensure overall development of Food Processing Industries in the country including to deal with challenges arising out of COVID-19, Ministry Food Processing Industries  has undertaken a number of initiatives as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Initiative, which includes -
- Centrally Sponsored -PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme  for providing financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises across the country during five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 based on One District One Product  approach with an outlay of Rs.10,000 crore.
- The expansion in scope of “Operation Greens scheme” under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana from Tomato, Onion & Potato  from Tomato, Onion and Potato  to all notified fruits & vegetables .
- Production Linked Incentive scheme  for Food Processing Sector with an outlay of Rs 10,900 Crore to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian brands of food products in international market.
Union Home Secretary, vide Order No 40-3 / 2020- DM –I  dated15thApril, 2020 dated, addressed to all Chief Secretaries/Administrators of States/ Union Territories, exempted Food Processing Industries in rural areas, apart from various agriculture and related activities from lockdown restrictions, subject to adherence of prescribed COVID norms. In order to facilitate food processing units resume their operations, MoFPI had established a dedicated Grievance Cell and a Task Force during initial phase of outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic itself to liaison with state authorities. A total of 585 industry related issues were resolved during the COVID lockdown period in 2020 by the Cell.
This information was given by Minister of State for M/o Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Lok Sabha today
Special Service and Features
3.27 KGs Gold ingot worth Rs. 1.59 Crores seized by Chennai Air Customs
1. On 23.10.2021 during field surveillance, the Air Intelligence Unit, Chennai Customs found a suspicious polythene bag lying unclaimed inside the dustbin beneath the garbage cover in the toilet of the Arrival hall of the Chennai International Airport. The same was recovered and found to contain Gold foil with Silver coating wrapped in Carbon paper. On extraction, Gold Ingot weighing 1.8 Kgs, valued at Rs. 87.82 lakhs was recovered and seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is under progress.
2. Based on intelligence, 02 male passengers, who arrived from Sharjah by G9 471 on 25.10.2021 at 0340 hrs were intercepted at exit by the Customs officers. On examination of their person, 07 nos. of Gold bundles concealed in rectum and Gold totally weighing 1.47 Kgs valued at Rs 71.72 Lakhs were recovered .The same was seized under Customs Act, 1962. Two passengers were arrested.
Further investigation is in progress, according to a press release issued by the Pr. Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport.
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
73.82 Cr. vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
28,591new cases in the last 24 hours
Active cases account for 1.16% of total cases
India's Active caseload stands at 3,84,921
Recovery Rate currently at 97.51%
34,848 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,24,09,345
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 3% for last 79 days
Daily positivity rate  less than 3% for last 13 days
54.18 cr Total Tests conducted so far
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
“Practice of Yoga is the mantra of New India”: Prakash Javadekar
I&B Ministry institutes Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman
Samman to be given to Commemorate International Yoga Day
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Prakash Javadekar has said the practice and propagation of Yoga has led to “Healthy life, Healthy living, Wellness and Prevention of Disease” Yoga is one of India’s gifts to the world and has become the mantra of New India Under the leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, Yoga has been universally acknowledged by the United Nations and is now practiced globally around 200 countries on 21st June every year.
Acknowledging the positive role & responsibility of media in disseminating the outreach of Yoga in India and abroad, the Minister said the Ministry of I&B has instituted the First Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman  from this year to mark the contribution of media in spreading the message of Yoga. The Samman to be conferred on Media Houses would be given under the following categories:
- Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman  to be conferred to Media Houses engaged in Print Media, Electronic and .
- Thirty Three  Sammans under Three  categories will be conferred.
- Eleven Sammans to be conferred in 22 Indian languages and English under category “Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Newspapers.
- Eleven Sammans to be conferred in 22 Indian languages and English under category “Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Television.
- Eleven Sammans to be conferred in 22 Indian languages and English under category “Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Radio.
- The Samman will comprise of a special medal/plaque/trophy and a citation.
- The duration of the coverage for AYDMS would be from 10th June to 25th June, 2019.
- The contribution of Media in popularising of Yoga would be assessed by 6 Juries.
- Honors will be announced and Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman  ceremony will be held at a convenient date to be decided later.Tentatively the award ceremony will be held in July, 2019.
During the Minister’s interaction, Shri Amit Khare, Secretary  and Senior Officials were also present.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/59xE3LVICz4
https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/AYDMS%20Guidelines_1.pdf
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
Paddy Procurement shows increase of 21.27 % over last year
About 24.02 Lakh Paddy farmers have benefitted from the KMS Procurement Operations with MSP outflow of Rs. 52781.42 Crore
In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season  2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh with purchase of over 279.56 LMTs of paddy up to 14.11.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 230.52 LMT showing an increase of 21.27 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 279.56 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 194.63 LMT which is 69.62 % of total procurement.
About 24.02 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP outflow of Rs. 52781.42 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 45.10 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme . Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra  for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020- 21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Upto14.11.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 58602.68 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs. 315.63 Crores benefitting 33959 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan as against the last year corresponding purchase of 33976.48MT which is an increase of 72.48%for pulses and oilseeds.
Similarly, 5089 MT of copra  having MSP value of Rs.52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu upto14.11.2020 as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.
Procurement operations of seed cotton  under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Till 14.11.2020 a quantity of 1465847 cotton bales valuing Rs.4187.05 Crore has been procured benefitting 286547 farmers.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Fit India Cyclothon getting huge response, around 13 Lakh people participated in the first week of its launch
Cyclothon will continue till 31st December, citizens can participate by registering on Fit India website
The Second edition of Fit India Cyclothon is getting huge response all over the country.Union Sports Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju recently launched this event via social media. This mega cycling event started on 7th December 2020 and participants from across the country are participating in this. Till 15 December, 12,69,695 people participated in the Fit India Cyclothon and completed 57,51,874 kilometers of cycling. It includes 3,11,458 participants of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan ; 4,14,354 participants of National Service Scheme  and 5,43,883 other participants.. The Fit India cyclothon is getting very good response on social media also. Along with common people, celebrities are also posting their cycling pictures and videos.
This event will continue till 31st December 2020. Citizens can participate in this by registering on Fit India website , cycle daily a distance of their choice, and share their images and videos on social media tagging @FitIndiaOff and using the hashtag - #FitIndiaCyclothon and #NewIndiaFitIndia.
Encouraging the citizens to take part in the mega event, Shri Rijiju recently tweeted “Cycling is a great way to stay fit & reduce carbon footprints. I invite all of you to the 2nd Fit India Cyclothon with your family & friends from Dec 7-31. Let's join the clarion call of PM @NarendraModi Ji 'Fitness Ka Dose Aadha Ghanta Roz' #NewIndiaFitIndia #FitIndiaMovement”
The inaugural edition of the Fit India Cyclothon was launched by the Sports Minister in January 2020 in Panaji, Goa. This event was organized with the aim to get the people involved in outdoor activities and to start a cycling culture across the country. It saw the participation of over 35 lakhs cyclists from across the country.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets people on Independence Day
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Independence Day.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"देशवासियों को #स्वतंत्रतादिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। जय हिंद!
Greetings on this very special Independence Day. Jai Hind!"
Ministry of Law and Justice
Protecting the rights of married Muslim women
Preventing divorce by triple talaq
Cabinet approves the Muslim Women  Bill, 2019
Bill to be introduced in the ensuing Parliament session
‘SabkaSaath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ has been the pivot of NDA government lead by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Fulfilling one of the promises to the people, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Muslim Women  Bill, 2019 by replacing the Muslim Women  Second Ordinance, 2019 .
Impact:
The Bill would ensure gender equality and gender justice to Muslim women. The Bill would also help in protecting the rights of married Muslim women and prevent divorce by practice of ‘talaq-e-biddat’ by their husbands. The Bill will be introduced in the forthcoming session of the Parliament.
Implications:
- The Bill propose to declare the practice of triple talaq as void and illegal.
- It also makes an offence punishable with imprisonment up to three years and fine.
- It also provides for payment of subsistence allowance to married Muslim women and dependent children.
- The Bill also proposes to make the offence cognizable, if information relating to the commission of an offence is given to an officer in charge of a police station by the married Muslim woman upon whom talaq is pronounced or by any person related to her by blood or marriage.
- The offence is made compoundable with the permission of the Magistrate at the instance of the married Muslim woman upon whom talaq is pronounced.
- The Bill further provides for hearing the married Muslim woman upon whom talaq is pronounced, before the accused is released on bail by the Magistrate.
The Muslim Women  Bill, 2019 is on similar lines of the Muslim Women  Second Ordinance, 2019.
Ministry of Defence
Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC
Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, AVSM, VSM took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief , Eastern Naval Command  from Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, PVSM, AVSM, VSM at an impressive Ceremonial Parade held at the Naval Base here today, 01 March 2021. Vice Admiral AB Singh inspected the Ceremonial Guard and reviewed platoons of naval personnel drawn from various ships and establishments of the ENC. The ceremony was attended by all Flag Officers and Commanding Officers of ships, submarines and establishments. Later, he also paid homage to martyrs who have made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation, by laying a floral wreath at the War Memorial on Beach Road, Visakhapatnam.
Commissioned on 01 Jul 1983, Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy  Khadakvasla. A Navigation and Direction Specialist, Vice Admiral AB Singh has held various Operational Staff and Command Appointments in his career spanning over 38 years.
The officer has excelled in all professional courses in India and abroad and received his first Masters from Madras University during the Staff Course, where he was awarded the Scudder Medal. The Flag Officer has also earned a Master’s Degree in Global Security from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.
He has commanded Indian Naval Ships Veer , Vindhyagiri , Trishul  and Viraat . The officer has rich operational experience of Op Pawan in Sri Lanka and Op Parakram on the Western Seaboard as the Fleet Navigating Officer of Western Fleet. He has also been the Chief of Staff at Western Naval Command during the period of intense Op activity in early 2019.
He has commanded the Eastern Fleet and is familiar with the peculiarities of Eastern Seaboard, and was closely associated with the response to Super Cyclone Hudhud in 2014.
As Principal Director and ACNS  at Naval HQ, he was closely associated with promulgation of Maritime Strategy, Transformation & Long Term capability development plan and Atmanirbhar shipbuilding roadmap of the Indian Navy.
The officer has a rich tri-service exposure in jointmanship during the tenures as instructor at NDA and DSSC Wellington, Deputy C-in-C at Strategic Forces Command and Deputy Chief  at HQ IDS .
He is the first Alumni of UP Sainik School to achieve the rank of Commander-in-Chief in the Indian Navy.
For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016.
The Flag Officer is married to Smt Charu, who now heads the Navy Wives Welfare Association, and they have two daughters Ambika & Ajita.
ABBB/CGR/VM/MS
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Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
27,33,497 applications received under PM-SVANidhi Scheme
14,34,436 applications sanctioned so far
Under the PM SVANidhi-Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atma-Nirbhar Nidhi- A Special Micro-Credit Facility Scheme, 27,33, 497 applications have been received out of which 14,34,436 have been sanctioned and about 7,88,438 loans disbursed.
Vendors who had left for their native places due to Covid-19 lock down are eligible for the loan on their return. The provision of loans has become hassle-free as one can upload the application online on their own at any common service centre or Municipal office or by going to a bank. Banks are reaching the doorsteps of people to provide loans for helping them start their ventures. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has appreciated the hard-work done by the bank staff, saying that “There was a time when street vendors did not go inside the bank but today the bank is going to their home.”
In order to ensure fast implementation of the scheme with transparency, accountability and consistency, a digital platform with web portal/ mobile app has been developed to administer the scheme with end-to-end solution. The IT platform integrates the web portal/ mobile app with UdyamiMitra portal of SIDBI for credit management and PAiSA portal of MoHUA to administer interest subsidy automatically. The scheme incentivises digital transactions i.e. receipts/ payments using digital means like UPI, QR-codes of payment aggregators, RuPay debit cards etc. by the street vendors through monthly cash back. Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary  had earlier tweeted that his ministry is working with all concerned stakeholders to make the process smooth & effortless to realise the objective of Atma-Nirbhar Bharat.
Covid-19 pandemic lockdown has shown the resilience of local traders and with help from the government they can definitely bounce back to business and strengthen their livelihoods. Most of the street vendors who were given loan through the SVANidhi scheme are repaying their loan on time proving that small-time borrowers do not compromise on their honesty & sincerity. Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, MoS, I/C, Housing and Urban Affairs while reviewing the implementation status and progress of PM SVANidhi Scheme had tweeted that this is a positive step towards the making of an AtmaNirbhar Bharat, where every Indian is a stakeholder in the nation’s progress and way forward.
Urban Local Bodies are playing pivotal role in the implementation of the scheme. They are leveraging the network of all stakeholders namely Street Vendor’s Associations, Business Correspondents / Agents of Banks/ Micro-Finance Institutions , Self-Help Groups  and their federations, Digital Payment Aggregators like BHIM, PayTM, GooglePay, BharatPay, AmazonPay, PhonePe etc. in administering the scheme successfully.